Getafe 4-0 Barcelona
6-5 on aggregate
Nobody, not even the most fanatic Real Madrid fan, could have predicted the script. Everyone, including Frank Rijkaard, watched open-mouthed as Barcelona refused to turn up against Getafe, being pummelled 4-0 at El Coliseum.
It was a semi-final that was supposed to be in the bag, as Barcelona headed to the Coliseum de Alfonso Perez with a 5-2 advantage from the first leg.
Rijkaard even rested the likes of Thuram, and Messi, despite the Marquez and Deco being injured. After all, Getafe needed to win by three goals.
Well, they won by four, scoring twice either side of the break, with Güiza leading the charge with a superb brace!
What is worse for Barcelona is that the 4-0 score-line did not flatter Getafe one bit!
It was not even due to goals scored against the run of play! It was simply sheer humiliation, from start to finish, for Frank Rijkaard and his boys.
After a dominant 30 minutes in which Getafe repeatedly threatened and saw Güiza come close thrice, in form midfielder Casquero - who also put in a great display over the weekend - opened the scoring in the 37th minute, crashing a screaming volley past Jorquera and into the net from some distance.
Barcelona had looked rattled throughout, and refused to find their bearings. There might have been nothing for them panic over just yet, but there was six minutes later, as Güiza made it 2-0 in the 43rd minute to make it a very nervous half-time for the Catalans.
Oleguer, Edmilson and Sylvinho had all been shambolic, and Rijkaard's decision to play his fringe players was clearly backfiring. The attackers had hardly covered themselves in glory, having failed to register a single shot on target.
Things improved just a bit after what must have been a half-time verbal walloping from Rijkaard. They had some half-chances, but failed to make much of it, and Getafe were still the likelier to score.
The writing was firmly on the wall when Vivar Dorado made it 3-0 in the 70th minute, but just in case there was any doubt, man of the match Güiza put the tie to bed with his second and Getafe's fourth three minutes later.
Barcelona needed two goals, but didn't seem bothered to put in an honest effort. Rash challenges were the order of the day for the frustrated Catalans, as they endured the remaining 15 minutes of the game, before going off the pitch with their tails firmly between their legs.
Ronaldinho and Eto'o had virtually disappeared, Zambrotta looked nothing like a World cup winner, and Xavi and Iniesta - usually on the money - were simply marked out of the game.
The result sees Getafe earn a historic Cup final against Sevilla at the Bernabeu, while Barcelona go home in shame, hoping and praying that this does not ruin their La Liga campaign as well.
Getafe: Luis García; Contra, Alexis, Belenguer, Paredes; Cotelo, Casquero, Celestini, Vivar Dorado; Maris, Güiza.
Barcelona: Jorquera; Zambrotta, Oleguer, Puyol, Sylvinho; Edmílson, Xavi, Iniesta; Giuly, Ronaldinho, Eto'o.
Goals: 1-0, Casquero (37'); 2-0, Güiza (43'); 3-0, Vivar Dorado (70'); 4-0, Güiza (73').
Subject: Heroic Getafe Humiliate Abject Barcelon 
Fri May 11, 2007 1:28 am
